LIFESTYLE businesses across York are collaborating to put on a free exhibition celebrating the best that local businesses have to offer.

York Lifestyle 2013 brings together 12 independent businesses to inspire homeowners and help them to prepare for their spring makeovers.

The exhibition – on February 2 and 3 at Deans Garden Centre – will cover many aspects of home and garden, as well as other lifestyle essentials – good food, travel and entertainment Exhibitors include Quick Slide Windows of York, Style Flooring of York, based in Heworth, Moonlight Bedrooms of Pocklington, Focus Fireplaces of Stockton-on-Forest, Fabric Gallery of Dunnington, Astek Landscapes of Huntington, Deans Garden Centre, on Stockton Lane, York, Allerthorpe Lakeland Park, Quartz Travel of Heworth, Herbert Todd & Sons of York, Direct Tile Importers, of Clifton Moor, and Jaipur Spice, based in Haxby Road.

The event, supported by The Press, will provide one-to-one expert advice for homeowners and will also see the launch of new collections, designs and products for 2013.

The businesses were brought together in a forum organised by The Press to share expertise and best practice in marketing.

The free event, which will raise money for local charities York House Venture and York Against Cancer, is also offering guests the chance to win £1,500-worth of vouchers to spend with any of the exhibiting businesses.

Nicky Whitaker, owner of Allerthorpe Lakeland Park, 50 acres of grounds and lakes with watersports, a caravan park and cafe, near Pocklington, said she hoped to raise the profile of the business, as some local people didn’t realise what they did, or confused them with the golf club.

She said she had hoped to be part of a similar initiative in Pocklington which hadn’t taken off and believed in working with other businesses to learn new things and pool resources.

She said: “It’s all about customer service with our types of business, meeting the customers and looking after them so they will return and recommend us.

“That’s the same for all our businesses, so we are hoping to demonstrate that at the exhibition.”

Gary Watson, owner of Moonlight Bedrooms, said they hoped to make the exhibition an annual event, with the businesses working together under the York Lifestyle name in between.

Steve Hughes, managing editor of The Press, said he was impressed by the group’s innovative approach to finding new customers.

He said: “We’re supporting it because we believe passionately about trying to support businesses in the York area.

Some of these businesses aren’t on the high street and this gives them an opportunity within two days to try to attract new customers, all under one roof together.”